Washington lifts Biełavija sanctions

November 5, Pozirk. The United States has lifted sanctions on Belarus’ national airline, Biełavija.

Two planes and a helicopter believed to be linked to Alaksandar Łukašenka and Russia’s potash mining company, Slavkaliy, are now permitted to receive technical maintenance and are no longer subject to US flight restrictions.

The US also removed restrictions on a Bombardier Challenger 850 used by the Belarusian government.

Washington had pledged to lift sanctions on Biełavija after John Coale, the US deputy special envoy to Ukraine, secured the release of more than 50 designated political prisoners during a meeting with Alaksandar Łukašenka on September 11.

Biełavija remains banned from the European Union following the May 2021 forced landing of a Ryanair aircraft in Minsk by Belarusian security forces, who detained an opposition journalist and his girlfriend.

The incident has not been fully investigated, as Belarusian authorities have refused to grant international experts access to key evidence and witnesses.

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